Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-12-01


swered In the same quiet manner "It I am
not mistaken, you referred to yourself as the
sole inheritor OF your fathers estate"
"Yes," she replied, becoming more and
more bewildered.
"You are laboring under deusion."
I'm Heavens name, tell me what you
meant" she cried
simply" he answered, 'this--you are not
as YOU imagine your fathers sole heir"
'lie divided his property theni" she asked.
In perplexity.
II did not say ST." he replied
what do you mean theni she impatient.
| ly demanded. IL know my father left a will,
and according to that VIII | am his heiress"
"A will!" echoed Norton, turning pale !;
then, after pause, he added: 'You saw the
| willf'
"Yes," she responded. ''Only the day be-
| fore my poor fathers death"
DO you remember what became of it
what he did with itl" he inquired, eagerly.
she did not answer him at once. She
passed her hand across her brow as II In
deep thought At length she said
mo; cannot recall to mind now.n
ut must have been lost with his body,n he
papers," Then aloud TO her he added: ~
fear, Miss Ella. yoa are doomed to crushing
disappointment"
disappointment she repeated
yes" he responded. The paper you saw
was only a draft of u will; it was not exc
cuted, and WAS consequently of no value.
The share Of the property to which you are
entitled will amount 10 only trihe.
She was partially stunned by the blow she
had received; but she recovered herself sufli.
| GENTLY to ask:
Into whose possession does the remainder
| pass!'
"lnto mine" he answered, boldly. ~ have
searched among yonr fathers papers. There
Is no will 10 be found, but in England there is
one which makes me the heir to all but trifie
OF his fortune"
'Do | dream' Do | hear aright!" she
gasped.
Pardon me" he continued, drawing nearer
to her, ~ ! speak to you AS never dared be.
fore. You have never known poverty, nor is
there any necessity Of becoming acquain ted
with 1t now Ella" aud he took her hand. II
have long Lowell you Ia silence, not daring to
breathe my love, fearing you would repulse
Inc on account Of my poverty and humble
position; but your fathers death has elevated
me to your level, aud placed it In my power to
lay fortune at your feet, In addition to a
loving heart"
"Oh, have some pity" she cried, shudder-
ing and drawing away from him. ''rake the
fortune you say my father has left to YOU, but
do not iInplore YOU, speak to me again iu
such terms
"Am |, then, repusive to you'" he ex-
claimed.
''Do not prosecute M further" she sobbed
Leave me 10 make my way in the world as
best | Tan. | ask no assistance Let us
never meet again. Whatever place there Is
for me In life will find b. my own efforts and
such strength as God sees fit to give me-"
"You do not realize what you are saying"
he persisted, drawing still nearer to her.
you do not understand the world as do.
1t Is cruel and unjust to the defenscless aud
the unfortunate. Poverty kills by degrees,
and the enl is horrible Accept my offer,
aud the fortune your father has left me shall
he yours. will devote my life to the promo
tion OF your happiness. You will learn to
love NE after time"
''Do not come step nearer me! under.
stand you thoroughly, sir. Ny father intend
i
me so the day before his death, and you know
he intended should AS well as do; yet you,
taking advantage of an unfortunate circum-
stance, have dee lied to take everything, hop
ing by that means to force me into union
with you. Love Is a Ieaveu-born passion,
which enters the heart unbd ten; we cannot
call it there at will. You do not understand
my character" aud she drew herself up proud
ly. Il would not sell myself for a thousand
no, not a million times the sum you have
been please | to offer me. I reject you now
and forever, with the same feeling of re-
pugnance should Il knew your hands were
stained with human blood"
lie staggered back rs If he had received a
heavy blow. Ills lips turned livid, and his
eyes appeared To start from their sockets. 1t
was with Il great effort he recovered himself;
then anger took the place of fear and his
gray eyes glistcned as he turned them toward
her That same feeling of apprehension and
dread she had so often experienced in his
presence before came upon her with increased
power.
Your future is in your own hands, he
said. Remember, the wretchedness which
will fol ow your rejection OF Inc Is Of your
own choosing"
His words sounded like threat in her ears.
How dare this man, so greatly her inferior,
utter such words a. she had listened to! Her
indignation overcame all her other feelings
She turned her flashing eyes full upon his
face, eXclai'ning In tone Of command:
'.Leave me this instant never wish to
lay eyes upon your face again. Col"
He sbrank toward the door like a whipped
cur. Upon the threshold he turned, and
Kissed through his palid lips:
''YOu shall bitterly repent these words-re-
meinDer.n and the next instant he was gone.
Poor child, now that she was alone her
courage began to desert her. Wildly the full
realization Of her ie>oation aud misery arose
before her, aud, sinking down, she buried her
face IN her hands aud p:teouSly cried.
Mother! mother! look down from heaven
upon your child, for she Is now indeed cast
upon the word.'
CHAPTER VI.
When Frederick Norton left Elias pres ence
his senses seemed paralyzed. He passed
| along like man walking in his sleep. There
was not vest.ge Of color In his features, and
his eyes were expressionlcss, like those Of a
corpse. AT length, however, his brain began